Politicians at Queen’s Park have a responsibility to Ontarians to make the minority legislature work, Brampton-Springdale MPP Linda Jeffrey insists.
Business as the legislature resumed Tuesday as new Premier Kathleen Wynne outlined her government’s goals, direction and political agenda in a throne speech that officially opened the second session of the 40th Parliament of Ontario.
On numerous occasions during the speech, delivered on behalf of the government by Lt.-Gov. David Onley, Wynne called for collaboration in the legislature to get necessary work done at Queen’s Park.
Wynne, and the minority Liberal government she inherits from outgoing premier Dalton McGuinty, will need the support of opposition parties to accomplish anything on their political agenda and avoid a snap election call that would make her tenure as premier short-lived.
Jeffrey, who was appointed municipal affairs and housing minister in Wynne’s new 27-member cabinet last week, said the Liberals are ready and willing to work with the Conservatives and New Democrats.
These difficult political times require thoughtful, collaborative decisions, she explained.
“I intend to work with them and we want to make the minority parliament work,” Jeffrey said. “The Ontario electorate chose to put this group of people together and didn’t give anybody a majority and I think it’s our responsibility to make this next session of parliament work.”
She believes collaboration is possible if the opposition parties are truly willing. Wynne has had “positive” conversations with the opposition parties around common ground issues, according to Jeffrey.
The Conservative Party’s call for fiscal accountability, and the New Democratic Party’s desire to see government address home care and youth unemployment are issues the Liberals also want to tackle, said Jeffrey.
“Those are all very important issues and I think we share their interest in making sure we make progress on those issues,” she said.
The throne speech stressed building a fair society, strong economy and more accountable legislature.
More specific details should come in the government’s budget, expected sometime next month. However, the throne speech did note plans to eliminate Ontario’s deficit by 2017/2018, work with opposition parties to balance the budget, focus on employment opportunities for Ontario’s youth, ensure municipalities and their residents have a say in locating energy infrastructure in their communities and work respectfully with labour unions.
“For the benefit of the entire province, your government intends to work with opposition parties, in a spirit of renewed cooperation, to get the people’s business done,” Onley said in delivering the Liberal throne speech to the legislature. “It (the government) does not believe that we are irreparably divided.”
Progressive Conservative Party Leader Tim Hudak, who has not been overly receptive to the overtures being made by Wynne, appears to be beating the election drums. He characterized the throne speech as a familiar Liberal agenda headed in the wrong direction.“Premier Wynne appears to have chosen to entrench the McGuinty agenda that led Ontario to the biggest jobs and debt crisis of our lifetime,” Hudak said. “The only way to end our jobs and debt crisis, to take us off the wrong track, to change the direction of the province is to change the team that leads it.”
New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath wasn’t as harsh in her response to the speech, but did put the Liberals on notice they need to deliver results on specific issues.
“Families are feeling squeezed by tough times. They want government action that creates jobs, improves health care and makes life affordable while we balance the books,” said Horwath. “This throne speech has a lot of promising talk, but unless we see action in the coming budget, we won’t be able to support it.”
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and its vocal oppositon to Bill 115, typified the sour relationship between the Liberal government under McGuinty and labour unions.
But it was ETFO that appeared to offer the most concilatory response to the throne speech— announcing it welcomed the respectful and inclusive tone in Wynne’s plans for mending fences with labour.
Although, the union also suggested actions by the government would be the true test.
“We look forward to working with this new government and appreciate the respect it has voiced for its partners in public services, including teachers,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond. “While this commitment to respect is important, it will be the actions of the government that demonstrate what that really means.”
Reaction to the throne speech provides Wynne and the Liberals with some indication about which way the political winds are blowing at Queen’s Park.
But Wynne’s first and biggest hurdle will actually come when the government presents its budget next month.
It will need some support from at least one of the opposition parties to pass.
If it fails to pass, the government could fall and Ontarians would be headed into another election.